How to buy the Google Pixel

The Google Pixel reviews are up, and, for the most part, critics are raving about Google’s new smartphones, the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL. While you may have heard it’s a Verizon exclusive, that’s not necessarily true. In fact, you can buy it elsewhere and still use it on Verizon or other carriers. Or, and you may not have known this, you can buy it from Verizon and use it on any other major U.S. wireless carrier.

Google Pixel from Google

This is your best bet if you want to get the phone right from the source or are a Project Fi user and want a Google Pixel with a Project Fi SIM card in the box. Expect to wait a few weeks for most models, though, since many have been in and out of stock since pre-orders opened earlier this month.

Google Pixel from Verizon

The good news here is that Verizon promises to deliver updates to the Google Pixel as fast as Google will. We’ll believe it when we see it, but if you trust those claims, Verizon is another great place to buy the phone. It still has some stock available and offers the option to pay full price for it. You need to pick some sort of data plan online, which is a pain, but you should be able to cancel it after you get the Pixel. Also, Verizon’s Pixel and Pixel XL are carrier unlocked, so you can take them over to AT&T, T-Mobile or Sprint.

Google Pixel from Best Buy

I recommend this option last. Best Buy had iPhone preorders and wasn’t able to deliver them on time, so I’ve lost a bit of trust in giving them my money ahead of a major product release. Also, it’s only selling phones through Verizon. It also only has 32GB models in stock, which means you can’t get the 128GB option there… at least not yet.

Those are your best choices now. The Google Pixel officially releases on October 20. Good luck.